(The Center Square) – State Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, leaves little doubt about where he stands on a measure now being debated in Springfield that seeks to raise the age a child can be arrested in Illinois for perpetrating a crime from 10 to 12 years old.
Introduced by state Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, Senate Bill 1784 would also establish that arrests involving such minors can only be carried out as a last resort, in such instances where probable cause that they committed a crime is apparent, or if they have repeatedly failed to appear at scheduled hearings on the matter.
“If a juvenile does something at the age of 10, I think we definitely need to have parental involvement as the priority,” Ford told The Center Square. “And if there’s going to be charges made, I think that parents should be involved from day one, almost as if they’re being charged with the crime.”…